Let's see those BRASS Snare Drums!

[Fat Drummer]

My Gretsch 4160. Thinking about getting a Gretsch Bell Brass… should I??? Hmmm????

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Uh... yeeessss. And why are we having this discussion?

 

[Bri6366]

Yamaha Recording Custom 14x6.5 snare. I really enjoy playing this drum. Back in the late 90s, I had a Pearl Piccolo Free Floating snare. That was a cool drum as well.

 

[mlayton]

Great stuff guys! I really want to post mine. How many pics can we do per post now? I've got some neat ones.

Mike

 

[Fat Drummer]

I think 10, but just do lots of post and get them all!

 

[rstange1]

Another Yamaha, this one an SD496 from 1983. Sold it a few years ago.

 

[rstange1]

And another COB PowerTone for the Rogers fans:

 

[Stretch Riedle]

Mine is a 1929 Super Ludwig 6.5x14 SuperSensitive. Of course it's a NOB [nickel over brass]. I'll post pictures later.
Stretch

 

[Furious Styles]

Pearl Sensitone 5.5x13". Hands down my favorite snare.

 

[Prufrock]

Here are a few I haven't seen posted yet. The first picture has a couple LA Camco COB 10 luggers (a 5" and a 6.5"). These are two of my go-to drums.

Second picture has some British 1930s brass drums. Left to right: a COB Beverley Dual; a COB Carlton King with dual snares; a COB John Grey Autocrat dual; a NOB Ajax New Century; and an early 30s NOB Premier. The Ajax and the Premier are earlier drums with more generic nutbox lugs and with brass hoops (the later drums have nice deco lugs and cast hoops). The Ajax and the Premier are models with single snare mechanisms, and are both good players, even with the original wound wire over silk snare wires.

 

[DanRH]

I’ve got a line on a new Gretsch Bell Brass. Tomorrow, I will either have it or not.

 

[glaze148]

what are the characteristics and musical contexts for brass snares ?
any good for small group Jazz ?

 

[ocgvictoria]

Black brass Pearl Sensitone Elite 14x6.5 is no slouch. Yes it is the reissue generation; but with superhoops, good heads and wires, it is a great sounding drum and built like a brass poophouse. I got this almost-never-played model a few months ago for cheap, cheap, cheap. It is a great drum.

 

[ocgvictoria]

And let’s not forget a great brass snare for well-engineered concert halls, the Pearl Philharmonic PHB1540 (here in black brass). This is the 14x5 version and if anyone thinks they need the larger 14x6.5 for Carnegie Hall, they need to get their hearing aid batteries replaced. Fitted with Remo Diplomat batter and snareside heads, nothing produces the crack you need to cut through a full orchestra at levels from ppp to fff better than this. And the Triad Strainer snare system has three sets of snare wires (coated snares, flat snares and uncoated stainless snares) that can be adjusted separately. The entire snare assembly can be replaced in under 1 minute with by unscrewing the thumb tension knobs on the throw and the butt. This is my backup model, the original tag is still on it! These are selling now for more than $800 but out-preform even at that price.

Edited to add: Just checked the price of a set of replacement snares for the Philharmonic Series; more than $200! Whew …

 

[HalldorL]

1920’s Ludwig heavy brass:

Tama “Bell Brass” replica (Duluth shell):

Gretsch “Bell Brass” (sold):

 

[UptownShakedown]

I have a rare one which I bought out of curiosity and thought I would see if I could do anything with it. I couldn't. It's a solid brass Indian made marching snare with belt hook as seen. The tuning is from reso side only with those large wing nuts ....no strainer but just a couple of knobs either side to tie something to....
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I see promise here. Does it fit modern heads? Can you crank it into timbale territory?

 

[Drdrumdude3009]

I will take pix of my COB Krupa with wood top hoop, NOB snare hoop and a Trick strainer. A bit of a Frankenstein’s Monster, but a great sounding snare.

 

[Drdrumdude3009]

Frankie:

 

[earteaga]

- Ludwig Black Beauty 6.5x14
- Dunnett 2N Antique Brass 6.5x14
- Pork Pie Brass Patina 6.5x14